text:
- News
- Obituaries
- Opinion
- Sports
- Outdoors
- Arts & Entertainment
- Lifestyle
- Photo and Video
By Sally Neel
Special to The PREVIEW
Curtains Up Pagosa! (formerly Music Boosters) is happy to announce its newest board member, Darcy DeGuise.
Those who attended this summer's production of "Cinderella," produced by Curtains Up Pagosa! (formerly Music Boosters), could not help but notice the funny, talented ball-of-fire actress who played the Fairy Godmother. Indeed, many who left the theater said, "Wow! Who is she? Where did she come from? Where has she been hiding?"
But Darcy DeGuise is no stranger to the students at Pagosa Springs High School. As a teacher of English literature and instructor for PHTV, (the media education class that teaches students how to use visual media to create journalistic videos, public service announcements, documentaries, as well as entertainment and instructive videos), Darcy has become synonymous with enthusiasm, energy and frank evaluation. She encourages her students with her wonderful sense of humor and her no-holds-barred frankness, pushing them to strive to do more than they thought they could do and be more than they thought they could be.
Darcy is also a trained musician with an extraordinary voice that can mesmerize and transfix her audience with its intensity and beauty. She readily answered the request from Dale Johnson and Sally Neel, artistic directors of Curtains Up Pagosa!, to assist with auditions for their musicals two years ago. She quickly proved her talents by assisting with vocal preparation, working back stage, and generally helping with whatever she was called upon to do.
"We couldn't wait to put her on stage," says Dale Johnson. "She obviously had an amazing talent that was just aching to be used! We cast her as Fairy Godmother in Cinderella and she took it from there. The comedic antics, the crazy dancing, the beautiful voice were all hers! With only a minimal amount of directing from me, she took the role to a completely different level. And what a delightful person to work with! She keeps us all laughing!" Darcy will show her more serious side as she plays the part of Dulcinea in the upcoming production of "Man of La Mancha," scheduled for Dec. 12-15, at the high school auditorium.
Darcy made her appearance on the Pagosa scene at the very beginning of the 2010-2011 school year. She and her husband had lived in ever-growing, increasingly hectic metropolis of Denver where she taught school for nine years, and were looking for a new venue, a place on the Western Slope. She had applied for a position in several schools and, as luck would have it, one opened at PSHS two weeks before school started. She didn't have much time to get her feet wet before plunging head first into a new and very busy school year. But plunge she did, and the result was a wonderful, vivacious new teacher at the school.
Darcy has big dreams for her students and the programs she directs. She is not content to go with the status quo. Rather, she wants excellence from her students, from the school, and from our community. She believes that Curtains Up Pagosa! can help her realize these goals.
"My arts program, PHTV, is part of FAMA (Fine Arts Magnet). Ultimately, I would love to replace our antiquated Apple eMacs with iMacs and a hard drive tower, so my class could share files and become more proficient (and efficient) with their editing skills. I think that my program has the potential to be a larger part of the PSHS daily operations when and if we update our technology. Having been involved with CUP (Curtains up Pagosa!) prior to becoming a board member, I am excited to see how my new involvement with CUP can help me grow my program while utilizing my students' skills in creating quality video productions for CUP. I'd also like to grow CUP's video archives of their musical productions.
"The most satisfying part of my job is working with the kids," she said. "It doesn't matter if it's in a structured, academic class, on the weekend doing community service with Key Club, or working behind the scenes with them in the spring high school musical. I truly believe I am in the right profession, and that my calling is to inspire and push kids in the direction of their dreams, whatever they may be."
Curtains Up Pagosa! is a community sponsored organization whose mission is to strengthen youth through the performing arts and adult volunteer mentorship. Revenues from their productions and fund raising events assist fine arts programs in the schools and provide college scholarships for students who plan to major in the arts. "We are very proud and excited to welcome Darcy to our executive board," says Bill Stine, president of Curtains Up Pagosa! "We know that she will bring her boundless enthusiasm, her incredible talent, and her love for the kids to help us accomplish the goals we have as an organization."


text:
The 2014 KX250F's championship-winning technology includes a new Launch Control system, a plug-and-play adjustable ECU, Separate Function Fork (SFF), new motor mounts, revised suspension tuning and an upgraded transmission.
The new launch control system is the first of its kind on a 250. The system works by retarding the ignition timing in first and second gears, to tailor the amount of torque delivered to the rear tire. Launch Control Mode is easily activated by pushing a button on the left handlebar, while stopped in neutral, first or second gear. Launch Control has maximum effect within the first few seconds of releasing the clutch. Shifting into third gear automatically deactivates Launch Control mode and returns ignition timing to a normal map.
The KX250F frame features narrow main spars for excellent ergonomics that offer superior freedom of movement in the saddle. New high-tensile steel front engine mount plates are 29% thinner that last year's steel plates. The new front mount plates provide a revised chassis rigidity balance that enhances front-end feel and traction.
The KX250F's Digital Fuel Injection (DFI) system features dual injectors that pack a one-two punch, delivering a second dose of fuel on acceleration to maximize the high-rpm power and overrev capabilities of the KX250F. The system's second injector is located upstream of the throttle body and helps build a wider and more potent spread of power as rpm climbs. The two fine-mist atomizing injectors that feed the 250cc four-stroke powerplant have different body sizes but deliver the same total capacity per cycle.
The DFI system comes with three pre-programmed ignition maps which are easily selectable without the use of a laptop computer or any other electronic devices. Maps can quickly be changed between three settings – standard, hard (terrain) and soft (terrain) – by swapping the DFI wire coupler cap clipped to the side of the steering head. No additional accessories are needed to alternate between pre-preprogrammed maps – simply install the appropriate coupler cap to select your desired ignition mode and start winning.
The KX250F was the first production motocross bike to feature Showa's SFF fork, which separates damping and springing duties into the individual fork legs. The KX250F's beefy 48mm fork contributes to a more planted feel from the front wheel, thanks to large inner fork tubes with the 30mm main and 35mm sub-pistons that have been re-tuned for 2014 to enhance damping performance through the initial and mid-stroke.
The SFF also features an inverted compression rod that locates the cylinder at the top of the fork and the rod at the bottom. This configuration increases the volume of oil at the bottom of the fork for a more progressive increase in damping force, enabling bottoming resistance to be increased without sacrificing ride quality.
The Showa-built shock perfectly complements the SFF forks and has revised settings for 2014 to help capatalize on this year's updated chassis. The shock features dual compression adjustability, allowing high-speed and low-speed damping to be tuned separately. The rear shock also features the Kashima Coating on its cylinder wall, to help reduce friction and smooth the suspension action.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
State of Alabama Joins EWTN's Legal Challenge Against HHS Mandate
Attorney General Luther Strange filed papers March 22.
BIRIMINGHAM, Ala. — The state of Alabama joined EWTN as a co-plaintiff in the network's lawsuit against the Obama administration's contraception-abortion mandate.
In papers filed March 22 in the U.S. District Court in Birmingham, Attorney General Luther Strange asserted that the controversial federal rule, which requires the inclusion of contraception services in virtually all private employee health-care plans, would pre-empt rights affirmed by the state's Constitution, which guarantees its citizens' right of conscience.
"[T]he state seeks to preserve its ability to provide insurance coverage to its citizens in a manner that is consistent with Alabama law and the right of conscience," stated the document filed today.
Summarizing the basis for the state's motion to join the lawsuit as a co-plaintiff, the attorney general also asserted that the regulation would result in conscientious objectors opting out of their private health plans, thus increasing participation in Medicaid and other state-supported health programs.
Addressing a press conference March 22, Strange explained why Alabama decided to get involved in the case.
"In addition to our familiarity to EWTN, which is headquartered in Alabama and actually located very near the school our children attended, and the good work they do in our nation and our state and around the world, there are fundamental first principles at stake in this litigation," he said in an opening statement. "The mandate requires Alabama to regulate its health-insurance market in a way that violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Alabama Religious Freedom Amendment, among other laws."
"This dispute over the contraception mandate is the natural consequence of Obamacare's individual mandate, which my office is also challenging in court, along with many other states," he continued. "If the federal government can mandate that everyone has to buy something, then the government can require us to buy something even if we are morally opposed to paying for it. That is why I hope the Supreme Court strikes down Obamacare as unconstitutional."
Strange continued, "The people of Alabama have recognized the importance of [religious freedom] and have enshrined it in our Constitution as well. Alabama law does not allow anyone to be forced to offer a product that is against his or her religious beliefs or conscience. … The issue is clear: Either Alabamians and Americans around the country will be allowed to exercise their religious freedom and say No to something they disagree with, or they won't. We hope the Obama administration will listen and adopt a position that supports our first freedom, rather than undermine it."
Court documents identify the Eternal Word Television Network, Inc., as the plaintiff, and Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Hilda Solis, secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Labor, Timothy Geithner, secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury as co-defendants.
"[T]he state seeks to minimize the number of uninsured Alabama citizens for whom the state bears the burden of providing health care," stated the document, which charged that the "federal regulation at the heart of this lawsuit thwarts" that objective.
'No Mere Slogan'
Michael Warsaw, president and CEO of EWTN, which is headquartered in Irondale, Ala., welcomed the action by the attorney general.
"We are grateful to Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange for taking such a strong stand on this issue," said Warsaw.
"This suit demonstrates that the Alabama motto — 'We dare to defend our rights' — is no mere slogan," Warsaw noted. "The state could simply have chosen to file a brief advising the court of the impact of the case on its citizens. Instead, it is intervening in the suit as a co-plaintiff with EWTN. The attorney general of Alabama is saying, in effect, that this unjust, unconstitutional mandate hurts not only EWTN, but the entire community."
On Feb. 9, EWTN filed its own legal challenge to the contraception mandate, which was approved on Jan. 20 by Secretary Sebelius. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a public interest group, is representing the network pro bono.
The Register is a service of EWTN.
The federal rule requiring co-pay-free "preventive services for women" arises from the new health bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, widely known as Obamacare.
After Catholic leaders and commentators attacked the narrow religious exemption included in the mandate, the president offered an "accommodation" for conscientious objectors, proposing that the costs of providing the co-pay-free provisions would be passed on to insurance companies or other independent entities.
The U.S. bishops have rejected the accommodation, noting that the federal rule still required church-affiliated institutions to secure services that violate their moral teachings.
On Feb. 23, seven other states jointly filed legal challenges against the federal contraception mandate. Alabama chose to take a separate path, joining EWTN's legal challenge.
As noted in the state's motion to intervene, Alabama law does not require that insurers provide contraception or sterilization coverage in health plans. Nor does state law require every employer or person in the state to purchase such coverage. The documents filed by the attorney general clarify that Alabama citizens are free to choose between an array of health-insurance plans, including those that exclude these services.
The contraception mandate would overturn the status quo, removing the choice of morally acceptable health plans for those who object to some or all of the co-pay-free provisions. Unless the mandate is repealed, every plan offered in the state-run health-insurance exchange will include abortion-inducing drugs, contraception and surgical sterilization.
Obama Magic?
In the papers filed by the state, Attorney General Strange addressed the coercive nature of the contraception mandate and underscored his statutory responsibility "to ensure that charitable institutions adhere to their purposes and bylaws and to advise state officers on how to conduct programs consistent with state and federal law."
"Because the federal mandate at issue in this lawsuit threatens to interfere with the mission of religious not-for-profits and because the result of this lawsuit will, as a practical matter, control the administration of a state program, the attorney general has an interest in this litigation stemming from the prerogatives of his office," the document stated.
EWTN's Warsaw says this last point is particularly important: "When the federal government uses its power to coerce a faith-based organization to act contrary to its deeply held values, it destroys that organization's capacity to fulfill its mission.
"Ultimately, as is the case with the HHS mandate, if that organization is unwilling to compromise its beliefs, it is an organization that can't follow its beliefs or fulfill its mission; its integrity as an organization is destroyed by fines and crushing government penalties; it ceases to exist. People have fought and died for the right to conscience protection."
Warsaw applauded the 12 states — Alabama included — that have challenged the contraception mandate to date, and he expressed the hope that more states would follow.
"In joining EWTN's lawsuit, Attorney General Strange shows that he understands this is unacceptable," Warsaw said. "I am very grateful that he has chosen to use the state's power to intervene for the common good."
At the March 22 press conference, Becket Fund general counsel Kyle Duncan said that Alabama's decision to join the lawsuit highlights a "massive problem caused by the HHS mandate. ... The mandate, which is a command from the federal government, prohibits a state like Alabama from protecting its own citizens' religious liberties as it manages its own health-care market in response to the Affordable Care Act."
In answer to a question, Duncan said the accommodation proposed by President Obama for religious employers did nothing to change the situation. "This is simply a promise by the administration, which may try to come up with some arrangement in the future," he said. "All that it does is call for comments on it. That's not the law right now, and no one knows if that will ever be the law. The law right now, as it stands, was made final on Feb. 15. That is the mandate and its narrow religious-employer exemption."
"Secondly, this accommodation is nothing more than an accounting shell game," Duncan asserted. "The religious employers would still be required to provide access to this coverage. All the administration is saying is that it wants to come up with a way of forcing insurance companies to provide the coverage independently for free. No one is really sure how the administration can work that kind of magic to make something that obviously costs money free. Costs would obviously be passed on to the religious employer. That would be true whether it's self-insured or not."
"The fact that EWTN is self-insured puts it in an even worse position, because it's insuring itself and is merely using an insurance company as a third-party administrator," Duncan concluded. "So this accommodation wouldn't solve the problem for EWTN, and it surely wouldn't solve it for Alabama, because Alabama would have to construct a health-care exchange where all of the players in the game would have to be offering this coverage in one way or another."
Next week, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear three days of oral arguments addressing both broad and narrow challenges to the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The contraception mandate will not be at the center of that review, but its future depends on whether the high court rules in favor of the Obama administration — or against it.
Advocates and opponents for the bill are expected to converge at the Supreme Court on March 25, with rallies and prayer vigils planned to mark the groundbreaking case.
During a March 21 interview with the Register, Archbishop-designate William Lori of Baltimore, the chairman of the U.S. bishops' Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty, acknowledged that he would be carefully following the oral arguments, which often signal individual justices' particular questions or areas of agreement.
"Obviously, it could have some effect on what we're doing and what we're interested in," he said, while noting that the conference had long advocated for universal health insurance.
"But, all along, we argued that the health-care reform bill should have adequate conscience protection," he said. "It got passed without it. And we didn't go looking for this [battle], but we have it, and we're going to pursue all the remedies available to us as citizens — in all three branches of government."
Joan Frawley Desmond is the Register's senior editor.


text: Editing Marc Deering 0 You do not have permission to edit this page, for the following reasons: The action you have requested is limited to users in one of the groups: Autoconfirmed users, FANDOM Staff, FANDOM Helpers, Wiki Managers, Content Team Members. Please log in to edit this wiki.Joining Marvel Database is free, and it only takes a minute.We hope that you sign in, and become a member of the community!Click here to log in or create an account more + You can view and copy the source of this page: {{Marvel Database:Staff Template | Image = | RealName = Marc Deering | Pseudonyms = | Employers = | Titles = Inker | Gender = Male | DateOfBirth = | CityOfBirth = | StateOfBirth = | CountryOfBirth = | Creations = | First = | PersonalHistory = | ProfessionalHistory = | Notes = | Trivia = | OfficialWebsite = | Links = }} Templates used on the current version of this page: Marvel Database:Staff Template (view source) (protected)Template:Brclear (view source) (protected)Template:Reflist (view source) (protected)Template:Staff Categories (view source) (protected)Template:Staff Links (view source) (protected)Template:Staff Title Links (view source) (protected)Template:Theme.Default.BG (view source) (protected)Template:Theme.Default.Border (view source) (protected)Return to Marc Deering. Retrieved from "https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Marc_Deering" Edit summary Preview Mobile Desktop Show changes


text:
New Sandy Hook principal hailed for "making tough situations better'
NEWTOWN -- A veteran Bethel intermediate school principal newly hired as the new leader of the traumatized Sandy Hook Elementary School is a "true leader'' able to "make tough situations better,'' educational colleagues said Wednesday.
The Board of Education unanimously voted to appoint RMT Johnson School Principal Kathleen Gombos as the new Sandy Hook Elementary School principal as of July 1, a job that will come with a spotlight unlike any other in the nation. The board hired Reed Intermediate School teacher Timothy Napolitano, a former Sandy Hook first-grade teacher, as assistant principal.
Gombos, who has a doctorate in educational leadership and a master's in counseling, will earn an annual salary of $152,792; Napolitano will earn $111,428 based on the school administrator's contract.
"They have absolutely selected the best principal available ... with the skills, experience, and heart, to help with their recovery,'' said Bethel Schools Superintendent Kevin Smith.
Gombos was hired at Johnson School in November 2004 after two years as the Bridgeport schools' guidance department director and four years directing a program to prepare middle and high school students for college.
In her earlier career, Gombos was a Bridgeport guidance counselor for kindergarten through eighth graders. She was a fourth- and sixth-grade classroom teacher. She has a bachelor's in education from Seton Hall University; a master's degree in counseling from Fairfield University; administrative certification from Sacred Heart University and her doctorate from the University of Bridgeport.
In a letter to Johnson families, Gombos wrote that she is "excited about the opportunity'' as she embraces this new position and begins "this very important work, I ask for your thoughts and prayers.''
Newtown Federation of Teachers President Tom Kuroski said he has not met the new Sandy Hook administrators, but is confident school faculty and district teachers played key roles in the hiring process.
More InformationAt a glance
Kathleen Gombos named new principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School Tuesday.
Is principal of RMT Johnson School for fourth- and fifth-graders in Bethel.
Has a doctorate in educational leadership and master's degree in counseling.
Sandy Hook, with kindergarten through fourth grade, is largest elementary school in Newtown.
Kuroski said he is "sure everybody is pretty focused on finding the best fit for each of our schools.''
The board has two more principal openings to fill, as well as the search for a permanent superintendent. Interim Schools Superintendent John Reed replaces Janet Robinson who begins a new job in Stratford on July 1.
Since the Dec. 14 Sandy Hook shootings that killed then-Principal Dawn Hochsprung as well as five other educators and 20 first-graders, Smith said his district has thought much about how to help with Newtown's healing process.
And he said he is "proud'' Gombos was willing to lend her educational talents to a community in such pain.
Gombos and Napolitano earned standing ovations from the school board Tuesday night after the board announced the appointments following an hourlong closed-door session. The legislative chamber was empty except for two teachers and a news reporter.
"This is not something she entered into lightly,'' Smith said. "She thought deeply about what it would mean to be the principal of that school in this time. And she held that up against her own values. I admire that about her; her reflective, deliberative process.''
Former Bethel Schools Superintendent Gary Chesley praised Gombos as a top educator who understands curriculum, instruction, intervention strategies for students and whose school's test scores are some of the highest in the state.
But Chesley and her staff say it is her personal strengths -- intelligence, foresight, compassion and ability to connect with children -- that make her the standout candidate.
Newtown Board Chairman Debbie Leidlein said she was "thrilled'' someone of Gombos' caliber was compelled to apply for what is a high-profile position. She said she has every faith that Gombos and Napolitano will partner with the staff and administrative team to enhance the excellent educational program offered at that school.
In a written announcement, Reed said Gombos is regarded by her staff as an educational professional able to empower others even as she holds them accountable.
"She has instructional strength and we feel she will provide intelligent, appropriate support to the mental health recovery for our students, staff and parental community for Sandy Hook School,'' he said.


text:
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Get set to be entertained by "Ready and Resilient," the 2013 U.S. Army Soldier Show. The 75-minute song-and-dance production by active duty, Army Reserve and Army National Guard Soldiers uses music to put an entertaining spin on how Soldiers and their families maintain readiness and resiliency. "We had to take a good look at what the Army says makes troops and their families ready and resilient and what mechanisms the country and the world in general are offering to help with resilience," said Soldier Show Artistic Director Victor Hurtado. "And helping with readiness because you know there's a good chance that you're going back out again, so you better be ready." The show debuts at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, April 19 and April 20, with 7:30 p.m. performances at the historic Fort Sam Houston Theater. There also will be a matinee, set for 2 p.m. April 21, before the Soldiers embark on a four-month tour of installations across the nation. "The show is very much about illustrating not only ways to get away and be resilient, but also illustrating overarching solutions to certain issues that are facing the military today, like [the Army's Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Program], Gold Star, Blue Star and Survivor Outreach Services," Hurtado said.
The show's troops are focused on accomplishing the mission and providing quality entertainment at the same time. "The material makes sense with the messaging, and it also makes sense to them," Hurtado said of the 15 Soldier-performers and seven Soldier-technicians that comprise the cast and crew. "We're also going to be entertaining. We're going to be singing songs just because they are on the radio."
Hurtado believes this cast has the ability to outperform many of their predecessors. "There is no comparison, but what I will say is that there is a huge amount of promise in this cast," Hurtado said. "And I never use the word 'promise' lightly. Promise and potential are two very different things. "Potential is what allows you to prepare," he explained. "Promise is what opens up the doors." Hurtado promises there is something for everyone who watches the show. Tributes are paid to the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the 75th anniversary of "God Bless America," the 60th anniversary of the Armistice of the Korean War, and the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Vietnam War. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the modern era of the U.S. Army Soldier Show. "Every American, military-affiliated or not, will be able to see themselves in the show," Hurtado said. "The fact that the show is entertaining someone is already taking them away [from their mindset], but the messaging is going to inspire. We know they are coming to be entertained, but further, the content in the show is designed to hopefully be a time-released pool of inspiration." He is convinced this cast is perfectly suited for that role. "This is not a cast of characters," Hurtado said. "This is a cast with character. I tell them that everything that makes them a pain in the neck is everything that makes them amazing performers. They are very giving and generous. Unless I'm off on my observations, which I don't think I am, they are a generous performing cast. They are not so introspective or doing it for themselves. "I think almost every single one of them understands what it is to leave everything you have on that stage. And then get back on the bus and be resilient, so that you have more to leave at the next place. There is definitely a good variety of vocal instruments, character, and a general overwhelming desire to leave something with the audience. They are really embracing the messaging, as well. They really are." From the opening song, "Let's Go" by Calvin Harris, the direction of the show is set. "There's a lyric in there that we've taken almost all of our cues from, and it says it's not about where you've been, it's about where you're going," Hurtado said. The complete lyrics: It's not about what you've done It's about what you doing It's all about where you going No matter where you've been Let's go! "To me, as the artistic director and the writer of the show, that's where I'm taking my cues from," Hurtado said. "Resilience is about the now. And readiness is about getting ready for the future. Not much you can do about the past. We're not painting a rosy picture, but resilience, again, is about moving on." Hurtado explained how performers will bring the message to life on stage. "We touch on resilience while being deployed," he said. "The day-to-day things you've got to do to get you through the first day and to the next day. To not just get you through the day you've had, but to the next day. There's got to be a way to recharge quickly because you don't have a whole lot of time. "So what are those mechanisms?" he continued. "Camaraderie, playing a song with other Soldiers, interacting in some sort of group activity that just kind of takes place, actually having some communication with your girlfriend or boyfriend back home, there is Wi-Fi now, so having some sort of communication. "We touch on R&R [Rest and Recuperation leave] from deployment, not necessarily coming all the way home: maybe meeting in Europe or somewhere else," Hurtado said. "We touch on family time back home, not necessarily having to go somewhere. It's more about getting away, and not having to go somewhere to get away, that you can get away while you're still at home and spend family time. SARGE may be giving suggestions for movies to watch with the family." SARGE, or Speech Activated Reconnaissance Gathering Entity, is to the Soldier Show what Siri is to an iPhone, an application that delivers information to electronic devices, such as cell phones, pads and tablets. Soldiers throughout the show will lean on SARGE for information about how to deal with everyday life, and like a good Soldier, SARGE always delivers. "He is representative of a knowledgeable entity that would be able to lead people in a purposeful direction," Hurtado said. "He has the Army answers and the human answers." Hurtado does not want to reveal too much about the show, insisting this is one not to miss. "The mechanism is really brilliant, so if we give too much of it away, they are going to be expecting it," Hurtado said. "Arguably and humbly, I will say this is going to probably go down as one of the more well thought-out shows, and there are a lot of reasons for it."


text:
The following web browser settings should be used with this online service:
Web Browser Encryption
IRS requires Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption be enabled to ensure the security of your personal tax information. Please ensure your browser has the appropriate security settings configured to ensure proper operation with our online service.
Session Cookies Enabled
In order to use this application, your browser must be configured to allow session cookies. The applications running on IRS.gov depend on this type of cookie to function properly.
The session cookies used by this application should not be confused with persistent cookies. Session cookies exist only temporarily in the memory of the web browser and are destroyed as soon as the web browser is closed. The session cookies used on this site are not used to associate users of the IRS site with an actual person.
If you have concerns about your privacy on the IRS web site, please view the IRS privacy and security policy.
If you need assistance with ensuring these settings are in place, please contact your Internet Service Provider or the manufacturer of your web browser software.


text:
FINALLY ... The Opportunity that will End the Discussion About What a Legitimate Home Business Opportunity is,
and Guide You to the Results You Want with CERTAINTY!
"It's a Game Changer!..." Home Business Review
The First Home Business Opportunity that
Everyone can Afford; Everyone can earn Big Dollar Profits;
and Everyone can Make Money with Instantly!
What happens when a few highly successful entrepreneurs create an opportunity with a specific mission .... to End Failure in Home Business?
What happens when you get started in an opportunity that offers a way to make money regardless of your budget?
What happens when you build a business based on truth and authenticity as a legitimate alternative to Hype, Deceit, and Half Truths?
What happens when you have the perfect product, the single most important product you can buy as an Entrepreneur?
You Get Success Made Certain ....
Welcome to Pinnacle Evolution ... the First Opportunity designed to END FAILURE for you, ... for everyone, by elliminating the guesswork in the success formula.
Discover why so many new, struggling, and successful home business entrepreneurs get started here every day. When you take a close look, you'll be blown away by the company that is leading the Revolution in the Home Business Industry.
Failure is rampant in Home Business in MLM, Network Marketing, and Direct Sales Network Marketing opportunities.
Finally something has been done about it. After years of prototyping, extensive development, and massive input form the marketplace (people like YOU), we created the END GAME solution that is so legitimate you can market it to Corporations.
And NOW it's Yours.
For as Little as $100 You Can Be In Instant Profits and Grow Your Business the Right Way ... From Your Success ... Using Complete and Truth Based Techniques, Strategies, and Systems.
Are you Ready to Experience Authenticity Marketing First Hand?
Only Complete This Form If It Matters to You How You Build Your Dream Life, and Whether or Not You Damage People In the Process ...
Simply Complete the form below to request a call back from me.
If you want to learn more about the Truth of the Home Business Industry as observed from a Top Earner on the INSIDE, then read "The 8 Lies" FREE Report. We must warn you ...
... ONLY Grab this FREE report when you want to be certain about how exactly to make over 7 figures with your Current or potentially New Home Based Business.
WARNING! This FREE Report is NOT for Small Thinkers!


text:
From YES! Weekly
Jorge Cornell and two other defendants in the North Carolina Latin Kings racketeering trial have filed a motion for a new trial.
Cornell, Russell Kilfoil and Ernesto were each convicted of racketeering by a federal jury in Winston-Salem last month. Cornell was convicted of two additional counts for a violent crime in aid of racketeering and carrying or using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence — both related to a shooting at Ashley Creek Apartment Homes in Greensboro in 2008.
The motion for a new trial, which was filed on Dec. 5, contends that the jury was confused or misunderstood the court's instructions for dealing with predicate acts. The motion notes that the jurors asked for clarification, but the judge simply referred them back to his earlier instructions.
The jury found that Cornell, Kilfoil and Wilson were each responsible for the same set of violations: conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, robbery, interference with commerce by threats of violence and bank fraud.
"In light of the evidence presented at the trial of the case, it is clear that the only way that the jury could have found identical predicate acts for each of the convicted defendants would be for the jury to ignore the instructions to consider the defendants individually and to base its verdict on the notion that each member of the conspiracy was responsible for all predicate acts that the jury concluded involved the enterprise," Michael Patrick, Cornell's court-appointed lawyer, wrote in the motion.
… The clearest example of this is demonstrated by the evidence with regard to Ernesto Wilson. The government's evidence taken in the light most favorable to the government was that Mr. Wilson participated in a series of store robberies in April 2007. No evidence indicated that Mr. Wilson remained in North Carolina after May of 2007 or that he had any further contact with the other persons that the government alleged were members of the conspiracy in this case. Nevertheless, Mr. Wilson was found responsible for conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, interference with commerce by threats or violence and multiple acts of bank fraud. The government's evidence established that none of these acts occurred before the spring of 2008 and in the case of the Smith Homes shooting — which may have been found to be the attempted murder predicate act — occurred as late as August 2011, more than four years after Mr. Wilson left North Carolina. As a consequence, the jury must have completed the predicate act portion of the verdict sheet by holding Mr. Wilson responsible for any act they attributed to the enterprise. This enterprise approach to completing the verdict sheet is the very area about which the jury presented a question to the court several hours before they returned its verdict.
The same problems exist with respect to defendants Cornell and Kilfoil. With the jury completing the predicate act portion of the verdict sheet by assessing those acts engaged in by the enterprise rather than the individual, it cannot be determined that the jury found that Mr. Cornell's or Mr. Kilfoil's participation in the conspiracy embraced the particular predicate acts found by the jury.


text:
I have mentioned time and time again how particular I am about what my kids watch. One that I am always happy with my kids watching is VeggieTale titles. VeggieTales works to uphold a christian standard on their products. They do this while still making it fun and entertaining for kids! My daughter has always loved VeggieTales. And since she is a self-declared Princess I knew she would love the new title by VeggieTales: The Princess and the Pop Star.
- Audio Commentary
- "Astonishing Wigs" Silly Songs Sing-Along
- "Right Where You Belong" Sing-Along
- Behind the music with Francesca Battistelli and Friends
- Princess Poppyseed's Points For Being Uniquely You
A Mom's Opinion: She was jumping up and down when it arrived! I was anxious to see how this one would be. How would they combine a Princess,a Popstar and Christian values in one movie? Well I was very pleased! Princess, is a girl on a farm who dreamed of any life but her own. She starts out the movie singing this super cute song about her little brother. They have the little quarrels and problems like most brothers and sisters. When while, Vanna Banana is a Popstar who dreams of any life be her own as well. She dreams of being out of the spotlight and just being a normal girl. When the girls meet and start sharing their frustrations they create the perfect plan to trade places. This leads to adventure and a glance into a new life that they had only dreamed about. Both adored their new life for a while. But it did not take long to see that they were meant to be right were they started!
Many times throughout the movie the characters talk about God's plan for our lives. That God puts us right where we need to be. And even though it may seem like he does not know what he is doing, it is all as it should be. Both these girls learn this lesson. Through song and dance they take us on this journey with them. You feel the excitement, disappointment, frustration and love of the characters. My daughter especially felt a closeness to Princess Poppyseed. Here favorite song is the one she sings about her brother. But in the end she also loved how Princess realized she loved her brother and would do anything for him!
Enjoy the VeggieTales For Free:
If you like the VeggieTales check out their website for free and fun games, printables, interactive stories and more! Also be sure to follow on facebook and twitter for all of the latest news and products. They have fun contests and video popping up all the time on Facebook.
Buy it:
Princess & The Popstaron DVD is avaliable for Pre-Order now through Amazon for only $11.99! This title will be released on August 16, 2011.
Win It!
Living on Love and Cents and Big Idea Entertainment have joined together to giveaway 1 VeggieTales:Princess and the Popstar on DVD! Win it before you can buy it!
Entry is easy! Use the Rafflecopter App below. Comments do not count. For each entry click on "do it" for instructions and to complete and then click on "did it" for credit. You can come back daily for extra entries. You must do the mandatory entry in order for any others to count. You can do any or all of the extra entries. The more you do the better your chances of winning. Giveaway ends 12am est on 8/13/11. Good Luck!
"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."


text:
Mr. Speaker, a few years ago the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development assured the House that any attempt to relocate the regional office of Indian affairs from Amherst would only be considered on the condition that native chiefs approved it. The chiefs then voted on the proposal to relocate the regional office and the vote of the chiefs was respected. They voted no and it was not moved.
Now the bureaucrats are at it again. Is it the minister's intention to still respect the vote of the first nations and not relocate the Atlantic regional office?


text:
Oakland, Berkeley, And East Bay News, Events, Restaurants, Music, & Arts
Before he made Primer for some $7,000, Dallas software-engineer
-turned-writer-director-actor-editor Shane Carruth had no idea how to make a movie. Some who see his creation will argue he still doesn't, while others will lavish upon it hearty praise reserved for visionaries who leap from the shadows to the spotlight without any warning. Such has been the reaction to Carruth's time-travel riddle since its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in January, where it snuck into Utah like a cat burglar and skipped out clutching its top honor, the Grand Jury Drama Prize. Even those who adore the movie will caress it with backhanded compliments; "strange, difficult to follow and sometimes pretentious," wrote a colleague as a prelude to a kiss, eventually labeling it "an undeniably impressive debut."
To Carruth's credit, he enjoys downing the flattering praise with a shot of bad news as a chaser. He swears it all makes sense, that one plus one adds up to more than zero if you're at all paying attention, but understands there are just some people for whom his child will be wholly impenetrable. It amuses him to no end, for instance, that as the film's long journey from film-fest obscurity to art-house rollout nears its end, people are starting to whisper that it's actually about ... clones.
It's safe to say that while Primer may be about many things -- chiefly the politics of friendship as it relates to the hazards of time travel, and who hasn't been there? -- it's not about clones. Or perhaps there's a generation of filmgoers that hasn't seen Back to the Future, specifically the scene in which Michael J. Fox returns to the past just in time to glimpse an earlier version of himself reenacting a scene from earlier in the film. Primer takes that moment and expands it even further, to the point where Carruth's entire movie curls in on itself and becomes a loop in time from which there seems to be no escaping, especially if you're bound and gagged and stuck in an attic.
Carruth uses the most mundane settings -- a garage, a suburban living room, a warehouse complex, an airport terminal -- to fashion something unnerving; dark and unknowable things are happening just next door. At the outset we see four guys in ties. Even they don't seem to know just what they're constructing. Finally the quartet whittles down to a duo, Abe (David Sullivan) and Aaron (Carruth), who come to realize that their homemade invention, cobbled together out of spare parts, turns back time, which would delight Cher to no end but comes to confound the audience.
The math is tricky. When Abe and Aaron finally build a larger version of their miniature time machine, which they keep in a warehouse storage facility, they discover they can live 36-hour days, because if they climb in at noon and stay in their holding tanks for six hours, they will come out at 6 a.m. (I think that's right ... hunh.) At first it seems like a good idea: As long as they stay holed up in a motel room -- so no one sees them, including their future selves -- they can make extra money playing the stock market. But eventually, Abe and Aaron turn on each other. One of them, it seems, has violated their agreement not to alter the future by corrupting the past, which is a sci-fi staple -- Star Trek goes to the art house.
Come to think of it, Primer's more like Back to the Future Part II, when Biff makes off with the sports almanac from 2015 containing all the World Series scores from 1950 to 2000. It's a paradox and a puzzle, bereft of laughs but a comedy nonetheless, and absent of tension but thrilling anyway. Things don't always make sense -- especially a party scene during which someone has to go back in time to stop a guy brandishing a shotgun -- but if you give in to the movie, it's not nonsense either. Carruth is an elliptical filmmaker, presenting us with blanks we're either asked or allowed to fill in, depending upon how many times we choose to see the movie and assemble the puzzle pieces. That they go together a dozen different ways only heightens the experience; we're not meant only to experience the movie, but also to interpret it.
There is no question that it will take repeated viewings to understand Primer, to gain even a glimpse of its True Meaning. I've seen it half a dozen times and still don't think I get it, but the pleasure comes not from the deciphering of the puzzle but from the process itself. The whole movie's a buzz -- from the way it looks (jittery, kinetic, but never sloppy) to the way it makes you feel, elated and confused and ready to take another hit of whatever it is Carruth's been smoking. Love it or hate it, you won't be able to leave it alone.
Contact the author of this piece, send a letter to the editor, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
News - September 18, 4:00 AM


text:
Since 9/11, the armed forces have played a central role in our national affairs, waging two long wars—each considerably longer than America's involvement in World War II. Yet a major change in how our military operates has gone almost unnoticed. Relief of generals has become so rare that, as Lieutenant Colonel Paul Yingling noted during the Iraq War, a private who loses his rifle is now punished more than a general who loses his part of a war. In the wars of the past decade, hundreds of Army generals were deployed to the field, and the available evidence indicates that not one was relieved by the military brass for combat ineffectiveness. This change is arguably one of the most significant developments in our recent military history—and an important factor in the failure of our wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
To a shocking degree, the Army's leadership ranks have become populated by mediocre officers, placed in positions where they are likely to fail. Success goes unrewarded, and everything but the most extreme failure goes unpunished, creating a perverse incentive system that drives leaders toward a risk-averse middle where they are more likely to find stalemate than victory. A few high-profile successes, such as those of General David Petraeus in Iraq, may temporarily mask this systemic problem, but they do not solve it.
Ironically, our generals have grown worse as they have been lionized more and more by a society now reflexively deferential to the military. The Bush administration has been roundly (and fairly) criticized for its delusive approach to the war in Iraq and its neglect of the war in Afghanistan. Yet the serious failures of our military leaders in these conflicts have escaped almost all notice. No one is pushing those leaders to step back and examine the shortcomings of their institution. These are dangerous developments. Unaddressed, they could lead to further failures in future wars.


text:
The iPhone is known for its simplicity, but not everything about it is obvious. Beyond its straightforward grid of apps lies plenty of tricks that make Apple's phone easier to use.
Here are 10 essential iPhone tips and tricks, starting with some basics and moving up to more advanced maneuvers:
Tap up top to scroll back up
If you're ever at the bottom of a long web page or app and need to get back to the top, don't bother scrolling. Instead, just tap the top of the screen, and the iPhone will scroll all the way back up on its own. This one's an all-time classic, and hard to live without once you know it's there.
Double-tap home and swipe for quick controls
You may already know that you can double tap the iPhone's home button to bring up a list of most recent apps, but not everyone realizes that this menu swipes in both directions. Swipe from left to right, and you'll get quick access to rotation lock and music playback controls. Swipe again in the same direction for a volume slider.
Double-tap home for lock screen music controls
For fast access to music controls while your iPhone's screen is locked, just double tap the home button. The great thing about this feature is that it works with whatever audio app is currently in use, not just the built-in Music player.
Take a panoramic photo from either direction
In iOS 6, the iPhone's camera app has a built-in panorama feature, which you can access through the camera's Options menu. By default, you must pan the iPhone from left to right to capture a panorama, but you can reverse the direction by tapping the arrow on the screen. Note that this feature only works on the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S.
Streamline street names in iOS 6 Maps
Apple's new Maps app is a work in progress, but you can already make it better with one simple tweak: Under iPhone Settings, go to the Maps section and change the label size to small. The smaller text allows more street names to appear on screen at once, so you don't have to zoom in to see them all. The layout looks a bit cleaner too–provided your vision is good enough to read smaller words.
New Siri trick: Raise to Speak
Don't want your dialog with Siri to be heard? Go to Settings > General > Siri and turn on "Raise to Speak." When enabled, and the screen is on, Siri will start listening when you hold the phone up to your ear–as indicated by a chime–and she'll respond to queries through the iPhone's earpiece instead of the external speakers. You might even fool some people into thinking it's a real conversation. (For more Siri tricks and tips, check out my post from last year.)
Attach a photo or video in Mail
Yes, Apple really did take five years to let people attach photos and videos from directly within the Mail app. Just tap and hold anywhere in the message body to bring up a small pop-up box. The option to "Insert Photo or Video" will appear unless the e-mail already contains text, in which case you'll have to tap the little arrow on the right side of the pop-up to see the option.
Set a time range for do not disturb
Do Not Disturb is a new feature in iOS 6 that lets you silence all incoming text messages, phone calls and notifications. You can toggle Do Not Disturb under Settings, or you can set up daily quiet hours by going to Settings > Notifications and selecting Do Not Disturb at the top of the screen. From there, you can set a time range, always allow calls from certain contacts and prevent silencing on repeated calls.
Keep your photos backed up without plugging In
There are several ways to make backups of your iPhone photos without going through iTunes. The built-in solution is Apple's Photo Stream, which makes your last 30 days' worth of photos available on almost any device.
Turn on Photo Stream by going to Settings > Photos & Camera,
and your photos will automatically show up on your other iOS devices and Macs. To access Photo Stream on a Windows PC, you must download Apple's iCloud Control Panel, which creates a Photo Stream folder under "Favorites" in Windows Explorer.
Photo Stream isn't the only way to back up your photos. Google+ and Dropbox can automatically upload new photos every time you their respective apps, so you'll always have online copies available from any Internet-connected device
Set up push Gmail or Hotmail
If you're a true e-mail addict, setting up Gmail or Hotmail through the preset "Add Account" dialog isn't good enough, because it can't immediately push new messages to the phone. Instead, you can set up these inboxes through Microsoft
Exchange, so new emails get pushed right to your iPhone.
To get started, go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Add Account… and select Microsoft Exchange. On the next page, enter your full e-mail address, password and whatever inbox name you'd like, then hit "Next."
More options will appear. Enter "m.google.com" or "m.hotmail.com" in the Server field, leave the Domain field blank, enter your full e-mail address in the Username field, and your password in the Password field.
Hit "Next," and on the next page, deselect Contacts and Calendars unless you want to overwrite your phone's existing contacts and calendar. Hit "Save," and you're good to go.


text:
IntroductionAlacahoyuk, 100 mi/160 km east of Ankara and home of the imposing Sphinx Gate ruin, was a center of civilization during the Bronze Age—it is considered one of the most important ancient Hittite sites. Most of the gold and bronze objects that have been found in the area are now in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, but there is a small, interesting museum at the site of Alacahoyuk's royal tombs.
Request Full Destination Guide
To request access to the full version of this destination guide, please provide your email address below. Your email address will only be used for verification purposes and will not be used for marketing purposes.
|Copyright ©2020 Northstar Travel Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Your Travel Specialist
Invigorate Travel
Email: email@example.com
14 Kenwood Road
Wayne, New Jersey 07470


text:
Total Music shook up the digital distribution industry when Universal announced it in October 2007. The idea was to provide unfettered, DRM-free subscription access to music from all the big four record labels for the equivalent of around $5 per month.
The twist with Total Music was that, instead of directly charging consumers the monthly fee, Universal would work with manufacturers to bundle the subscription and its price with devices, therefore making it look to consumers as if the music was practically free. While much of the plan's inner workings and details were never made public, we are not likely to hear much more about Total Music for the foreseeable future. Universal Music and Sony BMG have confirmed that Total Music is totally done.
Sources at Universal and Sony BMG, a partner brought on after Universal's original announcement, have confirmed that Total Music is "over," according to Billboard.biz. Citing limited resources in a tough economy, iTunes Store's continued dominance of the marketplace, and the rise of free, ad-supported streaming services like Last.fm, the labels have pulled Total Music's plug. In the same breath, however, one representative states that "we realized we could accomplish the same thing in some other areas where we were working." Representatives from Sony BMG and Universal have so far been unavailable to return Ars' request for further comment on what these "other areas" may be.
Total Music's demise is quite unfortunate in light of the current marketplace. Subscription plans have so far failed to gain much traction with the public due to painfully restrictive DRM, and even revenue from Microsoft's promising Zune Marketplace and ecosystem that offers a $15 per month subscription saw a 54 percent drop, or $100 million, in 2008. Perhaps Microsoft's new "keep 10" perk, introduced only in November 2008, just hasn't had enough time to catch on yet.
Of course, a DoJ probe into Universal and Sony BMG over Total Music's potential for shutting out vendors and otherwise improperly bending the industry to the partner's wills didn't help matters either. With the recent news that Ruckus, a similar university-centric subscription service that Universal's Total Music entity acquired, could not even give away music, it seems that music subscriptions may simply not be meant for the mainstream right now.
Subscription efforts are not completely dead in the water just yet, however. Nokia just recently launched its Comes With Music subscription plan that ties music downloads to handsets, and Nokia's dominance in the cell phone industry could give Comes With Music some wings. Plus, Universal may still have something up its sleeve with those plans for "other areas," and ultimately, there is nothing stopping it from resuscitating Total Music at a later date.
For now, however, one of the most promising consumer-friendly and P2P-stomping music subscription models has been scrapped.


text:
Monday night's performances by the men suggested that on this season of "Dancing With The Stars," frontrunners would emerge early (why hello, Aaron Carter!). Tuesday night's performances by the women also put forth a couple of strong performers, though there were more possible dark horses and one very compelling story.
The evening led off with Debi Mazar of "Entourage," who was partnered with the very popular Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Particularly compared to some of the performances from the men last night, Mazar's salsa was surprisingly challenging. Her hips and feet weren't quite where they needed to be, but she showed at least some promise that was acknowledged by the judges.
Melissa Joan Hart started her appearance, paired with Mark Ballas, by announcing that she wants people to understand that her "Sabrina The Teenage Witch" days are behind her. During the Viennese waltz, Melissa's expressive arms wrote checks of gracefulness that the rest of her sometimes couldn't cash, and it was hard to tell much from such a slow and easy dance. She looked okay for a first time out, but when Bruno Tonioli unenthusiastically called it "adequate," he got it about right.
U.S. & World
Singer Mya is paired with Dmitry Chaplin. Doing the Viennese waltz, she was the first of the women to look like she might be a natural dancer. She and Dmitry have nice chemistry, and she looked sure-footed and smooth. Len Goodman strongly criticized Dmitry's choreography as too far from a real Viennese waltz, but the other two judges vehemently defended the performance. In one of the biggest discrepancies in scoring you will ever see on the show, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli gave the performance 8s, while Len smacked it down with a 5, so irritated was he with Dmitry's choices.
One-time supermodel Kathy Ireland (now billed as an "entrepreneur") wants to get in shape through the show, and her partner — Tony Dovolani — will undoubtedly keep her moving. He was alarmed, however, to note that she didn't seem able to count on the beat of the music. Indeed, she looked uncomfortable standing still before the dance even started, and she didn't improve. Kathy has no sense of the beat without constantly looking to Tony just to keep up with the timing. The judges broke it to her as gently as they could that she was stiff and awkward, and the audience will likely do the same, probably a little less gently.
Natalie Coughlin isn't quite a household name, but as an Olympic medalist in swimming, she's at least athletic — and she's paired with Alec Mazo, who's been looking for a good partner ever since winning with Kelly Monaco in the very first season of the show. Alec first worked on curing her of her tendency to grimace angrily while competing, then went on to teaching her the salsa. At times, Natalie seemed to have the hang of it, but her hips aren't quite built for Latin dancing just yet. She's coordinated and athletic, but she still tends to look like she's working a little too hard.
Singer Macy Gray is dancing with the lovely and frequently challenged Jonathan Roberts (who handled Marie Osmond's fainting spell and Heather Mills' missing leg), and it's pretty clear that this is not the year things get easier for him. Roberts called Gray "a little bit eccentric" from the beginning, and indeed, she seemed as out of her element as anyone the show has ever featured. Gray managed to walk around the floor in time with the music when it came time for her "Viennese waltz," but that was about it. Carrie Ann Inaba called the performance "beautiful in its own bizarre way," which was clearly the strongest praise she could muster
Model Joanna Krupa and past winner Derek Hough look like a great team when they're standing in line waiting for the show to start — so how do they look in motion? In spite of wearing what appear to be pants made from Big Bird pelts, Joanna looked good dancing. Hers was the first salsa that looked genuinely sexy (her model appearance, of course, doesn't hurt), and she definitely looks like a competitor to watch.
Last up was Kelly Osbourne, who's a naturally sympathetic figure, given her wacky family and her obvious insecurities about her looks, weight, and whether she's got any sex appeal at all. In fact, Kelly explained that it was her eagerness to try something more feminine that led her to the show. Her natural fear that she'd be hopelessly clumsy did not come true at all: she turned out to have a lovely smile, plenty of grace, and much more natural ability than anyone (especially Kelly herself) expected. Looking like a likely fan favorite because she's both talented and an underdog of sorts, Kelly hugged her wildly excited and weepy famous parents and received very nice praise from the judges. It was an obviously genuine moment, and precisely the kind of thing that keeps people tuning in to the show.
Next up was a foxtrot relay that showcased Natalie, Kathy, Debi and Joanna. All the women in the relay looked fairly good, with Joanna and Natalie in the lead — as you'd predict, based on their solos. It was a much closer contest than either of the men's relays on Monday night, but in the end, the judges' order was Joanna, Natalie, Debi and Kathy.
The cha-cha-cha relay involved Mya, Macy, Kelly and Melissa. Macy Gray still looked rough, but the other three looked very good — Hart looking much better than she did in her Viennese waltz. Mya is the best technical dancer, and Kelly again looked thrilled to be dancing, seemed very sharp and clean, and grinned right up to the very last second when she had a small mistake. The order for those four was Mya, Kelly, Melissa and (undoubtedly well behind the others) Macy.
So who goes tomorrow? Well, Macy Gray is the worst dancer by far, but often, first boots are doled out to the bad and boring over the even worse but marginally interesting. It could and should be Macy, but memories of the early booting of Paulina Porizkova, another former supermodel, suggest that Kathy Ireland would be a very good choice if you were putting money down on tomorrow night's result.
Linda Holmes is a frequent contributor to msnbc.com


text:
On this morning's Dan Patrick Show, UCF quarterback Blake Bortles shared one of the more unusual lines of questioning he faced at the NFL Combine:
"I got a couple girlfriend questions...Some awkward, 'If we come to town will she be there for dinner?', stuff like that."
Bortles's girlfriend, Lindsey Duke, is already something of an internet star, so this should probably be viewed as an actual, fruitful inquiry rather than as just NFL personnel men perving out. Bortles is going to hear shit from both teammates and opposing players about his girlfriend, provocative and profane stuff, and it's probably good to make sure he doesn't fly off the handle at a mention of her. Ideally, pro athletes would all be as smooth as Tom Brady, who uses his own supermodel wife to trash-talk other players.


text:
Sir Alec Guinness, CH, CBE (2 April 1914 – 5 August 2000) was an English actor. He was featured in several of the Ealing Comedies, including Kind Hearts and Coronets in which he played eight different characters. He later won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Colonel Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai. His most prominent role in his later career was as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars trilogy.
Guinness was born at 155 Lauderdale Mansions South, Lauderdale Road, Maida Vale, London as Alec Guinness de Cuffe. His mother's maiden name was Agnes Cuff. She was born 8 December 1890 to Edward Cuff and Mary Ann Benfield. On Guinness's birth certificate, the space for the mother's name shows Agnes de Cuffe. The space for the infant's name (where first names only are given) says Alec Guinness. The column for name and surname of father is blank.
It has been frequently speculated that the actor's father was a member of the Irish Guinness family. However, it was a Scottish banker, Andrew Geddes, who paid for Guinness's private school education. From 1875, under English law, when the birth of an illegitimate child was registered, the father's name could only be entered on the certificate if he were present and gave his consent. Guinness and Geddes never met, and the identity of Guinness's father has never been confirmed. Guinness was uninterested in his mother, who later had a short marriage to a violent, shell-shocked veteran of the Irish War of Independence.


text:
JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Hundreds of people arrived at 33 Star in Jacksonville Beach on Sunday to put their best "Smize" forward for a chance to be crowned "America's Next Top Model."
Producers of the hit television show and modeling competition help auditions all Sunday afternoon hoping to find the next big thing.
It's a chance at a career-launching prize, but for Nicole Snyder, it's an opportunity to chase her dream.
"My adrenaline is pumping," said Snyder. "I'm not nervous but I'm just 'woo!'"
In a new twist for its twentieth cycle, male models are being included in the reality television and model competition.
Potential contestants were eager to share why they should be selected for the next season.
"My grandma actually called me yesterday," said Emily Phillips, auditioning for this show's next season. "She was like 'Hey, you should try out.' Why not? It's worth a chance, you know."
Hundreds turned out, but some hopefuls were unfortunately turned away. Producers said applicants had to be 5-foot, 8-inches or taller to be considered and be between the ages of 18 to 27. However, all shapes and sizes were welcome to try out.
Once inside, Snyder said the most grueling part of the process is being in front of a camera, where she makes her best pitch to be "America's Next Top Model."
"Nerve racking, definitely, but it's very good," said Snyder. "I'm glad that they gave us the opportunity to do this and I'm very ready to chase my dreams."
In the show's tenth cycle, Jacksonville's Whitney Thompson won "America's Next Top Model." She was also the first plus-size model to ever win on the show.


text:
Heaven and Hell
Everywhere I look, I see pictures. To record one, I need only blink my eyes. A file of what I saw is provided for me that has the tonal scale of Kodak Tri-X but never gets grainy in the highlights, always has more than enough dynamic range, and always has more resolution than I need for the size of enlargement I choose. Later, deft and cunning assistant angels render my perfectly corrected file onto actual film for contact printing on real gelatin silver paper. I'm in heaven.
Mike Goes to Hell: Although I'm only allowed to use one camera, I'm always as heavily draped with equipment as the fellow at right. The camera I have to use hefts like a brick made of lead, and has a lens on it that's too long, zooms too much and too slowly, and always seems to be at the other end of its range from the end I want. The camera itself has some 400 knobs and buttons on it, and 38,000 discrete combinations of settings—but the connections between the buttons, dials, and switches randomly migrate, and are never the same. The camera is digital, and all the files have histograms that jam up against both ends of the scale, and too much saturation.
In hell, I see even more and better pictures than I saw in heaven—but I just barely miss almost all of them. It's something different every time: I have the camera set wrong, or the camera refuses to autofocus, or it refocuses just as I take the shot, or the viewfinder blacks out because the AEL button has spontaneously become the "B" setting.
The only things that will stay still for me, and that I can always get beautifully exposed, sharp pictures of, are flower blossoms and cats. If anything else that turns out perfectly, my PC mistakenly deletes it, or runs a program that saves it as a JPEG over and over.
And, of course, the Devil is my client. With every picture I present to him, no matter how hard I work on it to redress its shortcomings, he finds just enough wrong that he can justify not paying me...or paying expenses only. He promises to pay on a 30 day billing cycle, but actually it takes a random number of days greater than 2x30 before the check arrives. I have no legal recourse, naturally, even though there are lawyers everywhere. And I never have the opportunity to refuse his jobs: he's the only client I have lined up for the next week, and the week after that, and the week after that, on and on, forever. I'm in hell.
Posted by: MIKE JOHNSTON
NOTE: If you are, or know, S. Smith, please contact me. —MJ
Featured Comment by David Kelly: Ah, Paris with a Leica M3 and collapsible Summicron loaded with HP4. Couple spare rolls in your pocket.
And New York with Nikon D2x and 18-200 zoom, powerbook loaded with Adobe's beta of the next Photoshop, and a sat phone. Spare lith ion batts for everything, of course. Have a nice day.


text:
The search found 79 results in 0.012 seconds.
Heterosexual couples that split childcare duties have higher quality relationships and sex lives than those who don't, according to new research that will be presented at the 110th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association (ASA).
Early adolescent girls lose friends for having sex and gain friends for "making out," while their male peers lose friends for "making out" and gain friends for having sex, finds a new study that will be presented at the 110th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association (ASA).
For years social scientists have grappled with the question of why men receive far more media coverage than women, and now a new study reveals the answer.
Romantic opportunities appear to influence women's sexual identities — but not men's, suggests a new study that will be presented at the 110th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association (ASA).
"This indicates that women's sexuality may be more flexible and adaptive than men's," said study author Elizabeth Aura McClintock, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Notre Dame.
Social scientists have long argued documentary films are powerful tools for social change.
But a University of Iowa (UI) sociologist and his co-researchers are the first to use the Internet and social media to systematically show how a documentary film reshaped public perception and ultimately led to municipal bans on hydraulic fracking.
In an era where popular culture is increasingly recognized for its impact on lay understanding of health and medicine, few scholars have looked at television's powerful role in the creation of patient expectations, especially regarding pregnancy and birth.
Recent scholarship highlights the importance of public discourse for the mobilization and impact of social movements, but it neglects how cultural products may shift discourse and thereby influence mobilization and political outcomes. This study investigates how activism against hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") utilized cultural artifacts to influence public perceptions and effect change. A systematic analysis of Internet search data, social media postings, and newspaper articles allows us to identify how the documentary Gasland reshaped public discourse.
In the early twenty-first century, women continue to receive substantially less media coverage than men, despite women's much increased participation in public life. Media scholars argue that actors in news organizations skew news coverage in favor of men and male-related topics. However, no previous study has systematically examined whether such media bias exists beyond gender ratio imbalances in coverage that merely mirror societal-level structural and occupational gender inequalities.
How do national institutional contexts mediate the global? This article aims to answer this question by analyzing screen translation—the translation of audiovisual materials like movies and television programs—in four European countries: France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland. A cross-national, multi-method research project combining interviews, ethnography, and a small survey found considerable cross-national differences in translation norms and practices, sometimes leading to very different translated versions of the same product.
We examined differences between sexual minority women's (SMW's) sexual identity and sexual behavior or sexual attraction as potential contributors to hazardous drinking across a 10-year period. Data are from a longitudinal study examining drinking and drinking-related problems in a diverse, community-based sample of self-identified SMW (Wave 1: n = 447; Wave 2: n = 384; Wave 3: n = 354). Longitudinal cross-lagged models showed that SMW who report higher levels of identity-behavior or identity-attraction discordance may be at greater risk of concurrent and subsequent hazardous drinking.